Containers for use in cleansing jewelry and for like uses



Jan. 26, 1965 G. B. WEIL 3,167,079

CONTAINERS FOR usE IN CLEANSING JEWELRY AND FOR LIKE} USES Filed Aug.22, 1963 Y, I I III/I III I FIG.4

INVENTOR. GABE B. WEIL A TTORN E Y United States Patent Ofifice3,167,079 CONTAINERS FOR USE IN CLEANSING JEWELRY AND FUR LIKE USES GabeB. Weil, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Vivid Products, Inc., Dallas, Tex., acorporation of Texas Filed Aug. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 303,830 3 Claims.(Cl. 134-137) This invention relates to containers and more particularlyto containers for use in cleansing jewelry and for like uses.

An object of the invention is to provide a simplified and economicalcontainer or receptacle for cleansing jewelry or the like and adapted tobe formed in its entirety from plastics material which is resistant tothe corrosive action of metal cleansing fluids.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container having a bodyportion defining a first fluid chamber, a large removable cover defininga second fluid chamber, and perforated partition means intermediate thetwo fluid chambers to restrict the passage of jewelry articles back andforth between the two fluid chambers but allowing the free circulationof fluid between these chambers when the container is inverted oragitated.

Another object is to provide a container of the abovementioned characterwhich is neat and attractive in appearance and efficient in operation.

Other. objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a container for cleansing jewelry inaccordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section throughthe assembled container, and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary central vertical section through a containerin accordance with a modification of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred embodiments of the invention, attention being directed firstto FIGURES l3 inclusive, the numeral designates a container body portionor receptacle formed of molded plastics material and being bulbous anddefining a first fluid chamber 11. The body portion 10 has a reducedcylindrical externally screwthreaded neck 12 at its top, and oppositethis neck has a flat bottom face 13 to render the container stable whenplaced upon a flat surface. The exterior of the bulbous body portion 10may have suitable surface ornamentation molded thereon, as shown.

A large cylindrical closure cap 14 also formed of plastics material isprovided and this cap defines a second fluid chamber 15 whose volume isonly slightly less than the volume of the chamber 11 when the parts areassembled, as shown in FIGURE 3. The closure cap 14 is internallyscrew-threaded at its lower open end as shown at 16 for engagement overthe screw-threaded neck 12 detachably.

A tray or basket 17 likewise formed of molded plastics material isdisposed snugly within the neck 12 and includes an integral flattransverse wall 18 which is perforated as shown at 19 to allow fluid topass freely between the chambers 11 and 15 when the container isinverted but to block the passage of jewelry articles and the like. Theperforated wall 18 is disposed at the bottom of the neck 12, FIGURE 3,while the cylindrical side wall of the basket 17 fits snugly into thebore of the neck 12. The perforated wall 18 therefore divides theassembled container into a pair of approximately equal fluid chambers,FIGURE 3. The basket 17 has a top annular flange 20 which rests upon thetop of neck 12 and is clamped in place in assembly by an internalannular flange 21 formed integrally upon the closure cap 14- near andabove the screw-threads thereof. The relatively wide tray 17 forms asubstantially unrestricted passage between the two fluid chambers 11 and15. V

In use, the jewelry cleansing fluid is placed in the chamber 11 in thedesired quantity and the jewelry articles to be cleansed are placed inthe tray or basket 17 and rest upon the perforated wall 18. The closurecap 14 is applied securely to the neck 12 as shown in FIG- URE 3. Theentire container structure may now be repeatedly inverted end-for-end orshaken in this direction gently to cause the cleansing fluid to flowback and forth between the chambers 11 and 15. The jewelry articles willof course be confined to the chamber 15 by the perforated wall 18. Aftercompletion of this cleansing operation, the cap 14 is merely unscrewedand the jewelry may be lifted from the tray 17 and the cleansing fluiddrains into the chamber 11.

A slight modification of the invention is shown in FIGURE 4, wherein theidentical container body portion 10 having screw-threaded neck 12 isemployed. The same tray or basket 17 previously described may be used inFIGURE 4 together with a closure cap 14 which is substantially identicalwith the previously-described cap 14. However, in FIGURE 4, a secondtray or basket 22 complementary to the tray 17 is provided, in opposeddirectly communicating relation therewith. The top wall 23 of the secondtray 22 is perforated at 24 and is arranged within the fluid chamber 15in spaced parallel relation to the perforated wall 18, so that the twotrays 17 and 22 define a closed jewelry chamber 25 through which thecleansing fluid may flow axially of the container, and within which thejewelry is held captive. The two fluid chambers 11 and 15 are thusarranged on opposite sides of the jewelry chamber 25 and the two fluidchambers are separated by a pair of perforated walls or screens, asshown in FIGURE 4.

The tray 22 has an annular flange 26 which faces and abuts the flange 2tand an annular flange or shoulder 27 on the cap 14' internally thereofbears upon the flange 26 and clamps the flanges of both trays againstthe top of neck 12. In all other respects, the construction in FIGURE 4is the same as that shown in FIGURE 3 for the prior embodiment of theinvention.

The advantage of the construction in FIGURE 4 is that the jewelryarticles which may be delicate are confined within a relatively smallchamber 25 during the cleansing operation and when the container isinverted or agitated, the jewelry is subjected to less shock andvibration than is the case with the prior embodiment of the invention asshown in FIGURE 3. However, inFIG- URE 4, the main arrangement orfeature of the two large cleansing fluid chambers 11 and 15 on oppositesides of the perforated tray means is still preserved in i the design,so that the cleansing fluid may wash through and over the jewelry inopposite directions to thoroughly clean the same.

In both forms of the invention, the parts are easily separable forcleansing and the device is very easy to assemble, disassemble andmanipulate. It is lightweight, compact, corrosion-resistant, attractiveand economical. The use of the large closure cap having a fluid volumesubstantially equal to the volume of body portion 10 is the featureofthe invention which results in a greatly improved cleaning operation.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to,

Patented Jan. 26, 1965 without departing from the spirit oi theinvention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A jewelry cleaning apparatus comprising a container body portiondefining a first cleansing fiuid chamber and having a wide tubular neckopening therefrom, a large closure cap for the container body portionmountable and demountable on said neck and defining a second cleansingfluid chamber substantially as large as the first chamber, a receptaclefor jewelry within said neck and second chamber and including spacedperforated walls through which the cleansing fluid must pass when theapparatus is inverted so that said fluid may flow from the first to thesecond chamber and vice versa, and interengaging clamp means on said capand jewelry receptacle and engaging said neck to releasably lock thejewelry 7 receptacle thereto.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, and wherein said perforatedwalls of the jewelry receptacle are each spaced substantial distancesfrom the end walls of the container body portion and cap so thatcleansing fluid may flow entirely through said receptacle while jewelryarticles are held captive therein.

3. A container for use in cleansing jewelry and the like comprising acontainer body portion having a broad screw-threaded neck openingtherefrom and defining a first cleaning fluid chamber, a jewelry holdingtray element removably mounted within said neck and having a perforatedtransverse wall spanning said neck substantially "at the top of saidchamber, a large screw-threaded closure cap for the container bodyportion engageable detachably over said neck and being of a size todefine with said perforated wall a second cleansing fluid chamber ofapproximately the same size as the first chamber, and wherein said trayelement has an annular flange abutting the end of said neck, acooperating internal annular shoulder on said cap to clampingly engagesaid flange, and a second tray element arranged in opposition to thefirst-named tray element and having a transverse perforated wall spacedfrom the first-named perforated wall and disposed Within said secondchamber, an annular flange on the second tray element in abuttingrelation with the flange of the first-named tnay element and engagedclampingly by said cap shoulder, whereby said tray elements form aconfining receptacle for jewelry articles intermediate the first andsecond cleansing fluid chambers and said cleansing fluid may Washentirely over said jewelry within said receptacle in oppositedirections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,179,095 11/ 39Kelsey.

2,288,532 6/42 Knapp 220-23 X 2,328,543 9/43 Bauman 22023 X 2,664,8541/54 Talbot 134-l35 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE 1. NORTH, Examiner.

1. A JEWELRY CLEANING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CONTAINER BODY PORTIONDEFINING A FIRST CLEANING FLUID CHAMBER AND HAVING A WIDE TUBULAR NECKOPENINGG THEREFROM, A LARGE CLOSURE CAP FOR THE CONTAINER BODY PORTIONMOUNTABLE AND DEMOUNTABLE ON SAID NECK AND DEFINING A SECOND CLEANSINGFLUID CHAMBER SUBSTANTIALLY AS LARGE AS THE FIRST CHAMBER, A RECEPTACLEFOR JEWELRY WITHIN SAID NECK AND SECOND CHAMBER AND INCLUDING SPACEDPERFORATED WALLS THROUGH WHICH THE CLEANSING FLUID MUST PASS WHEN THEAPPARATUS IS INVERTED SO THAT SAID FLUID MAY FLOW FROM THE FIRST TO THESECOND CHAMBER AND VICE VERSA, AND INTERENGAGING CLAMP MEANS ON SAID CAPAND JEWELRY RECEPTACLE